Flipper Zero

What hackers pick instead

• ESP32 Bit PiratePeople recommend it as a cheap ESP32 tool for hardware protocols, with browser control. Critics say it needs protocol handlers written by hand and suspect AI-generated code.13recommend
• Kode DotPeople recommend it as an all-in-one pocket device that needs no extra shields or cables, with built-in NFC. Critics agree the roughly $200 base price is too high.7recommend
• Bus Pirate by Dangerous PrototypesA handy hardware device, still the most popular model and actively developed and supported. Some critics find its bytecode-style syntax complex.6recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 91 comments. Each links to the original.

1. Some people get a lot of use out of it, but if you just saw that list of hardware and couldn't think of one area you'd apply it in, it's probably not going to be a useful device for you.

   Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

2. I've been happy with my Zero, cloned some friends apartment building door fobs, and using it for missing remotes for TV's and fans.

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One Tech Specs”

3. that build quality and the availability of firmwares to do what you are looking for with just a quick flash makes them handy AF

   Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “NYC Mayoral Inauguration bans Raspberry Pi and Flipper Zero alongside explosives”

4. I use it to clone remotes of "dumb" devices and emulate them with ESPHome to make them "smart" fully offline under my control.

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

5. It’s been very useful to me in so many ways, from fob management, to one IR, to rf scanner and other stuff

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Edit store price tags using Flipper Zero”

6. What a great tool and community they have built. I find my flipper0 is like a computer Swiss Army knife.

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

7. Flipper Zero was great because it enabled access to protocols that are usually quite hard to mess with.

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

8. Great little device! I use monthly to provision keyfobs for new members of the hackerspace I run.

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One Tech Specs”

9. nothing else equivalent all in one package but i still feel like an idiot for spending on one

   Mixed · Dec 2025 · in “NYC Mayoral Inauguration bans Raspberry Pi and Flipper Zero alongside explosives”

10. Flipper taught me about sdr, and I was able to reverse quite a lot from my garage door pilot.

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One Tech Specs”

11. They may have created good hardware, but their software and discord community just sucked.

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

12. I used a flipper zero to debug my fan, that's a good place to start your project.

    Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “What is going on with ceiling fans”

13. most people who bought a Flipper Zero didn't really have a use for that either

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

14. one device = one large community = lots of firmware = lots of software

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

15. i've yet to find something that integrates all the features this well

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

16. it's great to put all your keyfobs in one place and backing them up

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One Tech Specs”

17. I used Flipper Zero to clone RFID tags for all the neighbors

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “Flipper One Tech Specs”

18. Things like Flipper0 are interesting hardware from hackers.

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “I ported Linux to the PS5 and turned it into a Steam Machine”

19. I'm sorry, but I'm so sick of seeing "omg hacker man" mystique surrounding flipper, which is exactly what they want because it drives sales.

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Edit store price tags using Flipper Zero”

20. I'm so sick of seeing omg hacker man mystique surrounding flipper, which is exactly what they want because it drives sales.

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Edit store price tags using Flipper Zero”

21. I guess all the clickb8 tiktok bs which casts the flipper as some sort of super hacking device worked.

    Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “NYC mayoral inauguration bans Flipper Zero, Raspberry Pi devices”

22. It begs the question why have an official firmware if it's not at least slightly maintained.

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

23. left the flipper zero community in the lurch and basically abandoned it over the last year

    Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

24. I still don't think I've seen an actually useful application for a Flipper Zero.

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Edit store price tags using Flipper Zero”

25. Its value is to provide a standardized hardware platform for (white hat) hackers for probing, prototyping, refining and sharing of security research

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Edit store price tags using Flipper Zero”

26. I used it to scan my cat's microchips which let me catch that my recent adoption had the wrong number registered

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One Tech Specs”

27. Adding the necessary hardware while refusing to support arbitrarily iLLegAl things is the best of both worlds.

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

28. The success of Flipper Zero was mainly of design, the lineaments of the product being previously understood

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

29. This is not a rational purchase - most of the rule breaking done with the zero is for fun or convenience

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

30. the real value depends on whether it’s actually useful in the field or just a flashy demo

    Mixed · Mar 2026 · in “Flipper Zero, Everyone's Favorite Legally Dubious Hacker Tool, Gets AI Upgrade”

31. I use mine as a presentation remote, and as a USB interface for some micro controllers.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Edit store price tags using Flipper Zero”

32. I had to do that anyway to fix their 14443B reader code to work for my application.

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “Kode Dot Programmable pocket device for makers, pentesters and geeks”

33. Cool as they are (very), I'm not enthusiastic about the Flipper Zero form factor

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

34. I've pretty much just used it as a toy to play snake on and a universal remote.

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

35. I like the format of the Flipper and it has very few distractions except Snake

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

36. you don't have full control over the device, which could be a limiting factor

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “Kode Dot Programmable pocket device for makers, pentesters and geeks”

37. The evolution that I could like is a Zero with more CPU power, SDR and LoRa.

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

38. it brings visibility and interactability in to an otherwise invisible world

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”

39. easy to bring with me to any area in the house/yard and test stuff wherever

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Flipper One – we need your help”

40. They did their job very well, financed ONLY by one-time sales of hardware.

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Future of Flipper Zero Development”